Nolan Smith suffers concussion in loss to Rockets

Portland Trail Blazers guard Nolan Smith sustained a head injury with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter in the Blazers’ second Summer League game against the Houston Rockets. Smith had to be taken off the court on a stretcher and was driven to a local hospital for further evaluations.

With the Rockets up 99-88 with 49 seconds left, Smith was driving to the basket for a lay up when Rockets guard Zoran Dragic hit him on the back of the head with his elbow. Smith then ran into the basketball stanchion and then lost his balance and fell to the court but from eyewitnesses say Smith never lost consciousness, Wesley Matthews who rushed to Smith’s side was heard saying he saw Smith’s eyes twitching.

Emergency attendants managed to place Smith on a stretcher and was taken to local-area hospital for “precautionary” purposes. The game was cancelled after Smith was carted off and the Rockets ended with the win.

Smith had a well-rounded night and finished the game with 27 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while shooting 10-for-16 in 37 minutes. He suffered a sore ankle during the first half against the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday.

A Blazers’ spokesperson has been quoted saying about the incident: “After further evaluation at a local-area hospital, the Blazers are calling the injury a “concussion” and said that Smith is “alert and talking.” He is expected to be released from the hospital soon after a CT scan showed “normal” results and he had a full range of motion.”